• Welcome to the 6th edition of "The Rainmakers," representing the top 20 investment bankers of 2024.
• These 20 bankers completed some of the year's biggest deals, based on data assembled by MergerLinks.
• This year's list marks the first time a woman, Anu Aiyengar of JPMorgan, took the top spot.

If you were to describe dealmaking in 2024, you might say it's the year Wall Street got its swagger back.

US companies announced over $1.43 trillion in deals last year, the highest amount since 2021, when a dealmaking frenzy resulted in a record $2.51 trillion in US M&A activity, according to deals tracker LSEG. The uptick — combined with signs of economic growth and a more relaxed approach to regulations under the Trump administration — has led some industry leaders to suggest that the M&A freeze that started in 2022 might finally be coming to an end.

"There's a lot of pent-up energy in capital markets, particularly around the financial-sponsor community, and that will be unleashed," David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs, said at a financial-industry conference in February. "I am very confident we will get back to 10-year averages" in historical dealmaking contexts, said, adding: "This year could be one of those times."

Bankers have good reason to be hopeful: There were 96 megadeals, or deals over $5 billion, announced globally last year — the most since 2021, according to LSEG. Such deals are the lifeblood of the biggest investment banks as they can generate hundreds of billions in fees for firms. Last year's M&A activity generated advisory fees of about $33.4 billion, a 7% increase from roughly $31.3 billion the year before, LSEG said.

Some of the multibillion-dollar tie-ups facilitated by the battle-hardened M&A bankers on this year's list included the nearly $36 billion sale of food manufacturer Kellanova to the snack brand Mars and the $26 billion takeover of Endeavor Energy Resources by rival Diamondback Energy.

To find out which bankers helped their firms benefit from last year's boom, Business Insider partnered with MergerLinks, a UK-based data provider that reviews M&A performance, to present the sixth annual edition of "The Rainmakers," a list of the top-20 investment bankers ranked by overall transaction volume, in the US.

This is the first year a woman — Anu Aiyengar of JPMorgan — has snagged the No. 1 spot. It's also the first time more than one woman has made the ranking, which is based on volumes of deals announced in the US.

Aiyengar, JPMorgan's global head of mergers and acquisitions, was joined by Lily Mahdavi, who was recently promoted to cohead of M&A in the Americas at Morgan Stanley.

It's Aiyengar's fourth appearance. Other repeat names include Suhail Sikhtian, who leads Goldman's natural-resources practice; Blair Effron, a co-founder of the elite-boutique investment bank Centerview; and Stephan Feldgoise, Goldman Sachs' head of M&A.

More notable, perhaps, are the unusually high number of new faces — including Mahdavi and her fellow Morgan Stanley dealmaker, Steve Munger. Also new to the list are Centerview's Todd Davison, Jefferies' Conrad Gibbins, and Xavier Loriferne of JPMorgan Chase. In total, nearly 50% of the members on this year's list — nine names — are making their inaugural debut, MergerLinks said.

The 2024 list also marks the first time a Jefferies banker has made the top 20.

MergerLinks tracks publicly announced deals and calculates deal values on a net basis, including both equity and debt components. To make the individual league table, a banker must have been the lead advisor on either side of a transaction.

Deal sizes are sourced from MergerLinks and public press releases and include the target company's net debt. The transaction values are converted from British pounds to US dollars at the average 2024 exchange rate. As a result, some deal prices announced in dollars throughout the year may not match up.

Anu Aiyengar, JPMorgan Chase

Title: Global head of M&A

Number of deals: 14

Value of deals: $83.2 billion

Aiyengar became JPMorgan's solo head of mergers and acquisitions in 2023, but has been with the bank since 2002. She is routinely cited as one of the financial-services industry's most powerful and influential female leaders. She has appeared on the list three times in the past.

Her 2024 deals included:

• Advised Intel in its $11 billion joint venture with Apollo Global Management tied to semiconductor development.
• Advised the private-equity firm Bain Capital in its $4.5 billion acquisition of Envestnet, a tech company focused on wealth management.

• Advised Rio Tinto, a global mining organization, its $6.7 billion acquisition of the chemicals firm Arcadium Lithium.

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  Stephan Feldgoise, Goldman Sachs

  

  Title: Global head of M&A

  Number of deals: 7

  Value of deals: $78.2 billion

  Feldgoise was named Goldman's global head of mergers and acquisitions following a management reshuffle of its investment-banking division in January. Feldgoise was previously cohead of M&A and has also led the investment bank's consumer and retail coverage group. He joined the firm in 1997 and became a partner in 2008.This is his second time on the list, with his first appearance being two years ago.

  His 2024 deals included:

• Advised Pactiv Evergreen, a food industry manufacturer, in its all-cash sale for $6.7 billion to the packaging firm Novolex.
• Advised Ito Kogyo in its $47 billion acquisition of Seven & I Holdings, a retail firm that operates convenience stores in Japan.

• Advised the data center firm AirTrunk in its roughly $15 billion sale to the private-equity firm Blackstone.

  ---

George Boutros, Qatalyst Partners

Title: CEO

Number of deals: 7

Value of deals: $76.2 billion

Boutros is the CEO of the tech-focused investment bank Qatalyst. Previously, he was a senior banker at Credit Suisse, where he served as chairman of both the global technology and healthcare groups. Qatalyst says he has completed more than 700 transactions of various types over the years. This is his fourth year in a row on the Rainmakers list.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised R1 RCM, which provides billing and financial tech to healthcare providers, on its nearly $9 billion sale to investment firms TowerBrook and CD&R.
• Advised Ansys, a design and engineering software company, on its $35 billion sale to Synopsys.
• Advised Hewlett Packard Enterprise on its all-cash acquisition of IT networking provider Juniper Networks for $14 billion.

Steve Munger, Morgan Stanley

Title: Chairman of global M&A

Number of deals: 5

Value of deals: $74.2 billion

Munger has been a Morgan Stanley banker for nearly 40 years and chairman of its M&A group for two decades. This is Munger's first time on the Rainmakers list.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised Discover on its $35.3 billion all-stock sale to rival credit card giant Capital One.
• Advised Truist Financial on the sale of 80% of its insurance subsidiary to an investor consortium for $12.4 billion.
• Advised Marathon Oil on its $22.5 billion sale to ConocoPhillips.

Xavier Loriferne, JPMorgan Chase

Title: Managing director, head of FIG M&A, co-head of media & communications M&A

Number of deals: 10

Value of deals: $70.9 billion

Loriferne joined JPMorgan in 2006. This marks Loriferne's first time on the Rainmakers list.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised on the $12 billion sale of HPS Investment Partners to the asset manager BlackRock.
• Advised on the $13.4 billion merger of the real-estate investment trust Uniti with telecommunications and broadband firm Windstream.
• Advised Nippon Life in its $10.6 billion acquisition of the life-insurance firm Resolution Life.

Todd Davison, Centerview

Title: Partner

Number of deals: 4

Value of deals: $63.2 billion

Davison is a partner at Centerview and has been an investment banker for more than 25 years. This is his first time appearing on the list. He joined Centerview in 2013 to cohead its media practice and was previously cohead of North American media coverage at Morgan Stanley. Centerview says he's been involved in more than $300 billion worth of transactions throughout his career.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised Verizon on the $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications, a rival provider of TV, internet, and phone services.
• Advised Charter Communications on its $17.9 billion acquisition of Liberty Broadband, a data and wireless provider.
• Advised the independent directors of Endeavor, the talent agency and entertainment company, on a take-private sale to Silver Lake, which valued Endeavor at $13 billion.
• Advised entertainment giant Paramount on its $8.4 billion deal to buy production company Skydance Media.

Lily Mahdavi, Morgan Stanley

Title: Cohead of M&A, Americas

Number of deals: 9

Value of deals: $59.6 billion

Mahdavi, who has spent the entirety of her career focused on mergers and acquisitions, joined Morgan Stanley in 2012; she was previously at Deutsche Bank and Citi. She was promoted to co-lead the M&A business in the Americas in early 2025. This is Mahdavi's first time on the Rainmakers list.

Her 2024 deals included:

• Advised Marathon Oil on its $22.5 billion sale to ConocoPhillips.
• Advised insurance brokerage AssuredPartners on its $13.5 billion sale to Arthur J. Gallagher.
• Advised Nippon Paint on its $4.4 billion acquisition of AOC, a chemicals supplier.

Timothy Ingrassia, Goldman Sachs

Title: Co-chairman of global mergers and acquisitions

Number of deals: 8

Value of deals: $59.2 billion

Ingrassia was previously head of Americas M&A at Goldman, a role he held since 2004. Previously, he ran the consumer retail group. He has appeared multiple times on the Rainmakers list, including last year and the year prior.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised Kellanova, a snack food manufacturer, in its $35.9 billion sale to the snack producer Mars.
• Advised Oneok, an energy company, in its $2.6 billion acquisition of Medallion Midstream.
• Advised Oneok in its $4.3 billion acquisition of a majority stake in EnLink Midstream, an energy firm.

Chris Gallea, Goldman Sachs

Title: Vice chairman of investment banking

Number of deals: 7

Value of deals: $51.3 billion

This is Gallea's third time on the list. Gallea joined Goldman Sachs from JPMorgan in 2018 after spending nearly two decades there. He has distinguished himself as a leading banker in the industrials sector.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised Carrier, a climate and energy solutions company, in the $3 billion of its commercial and residential fire business to the private-equity firm Lone Star.
• Advised Emerson, a technology and software firm, in its $3.5 billion sale of a joint venture, Copeland, to the private-equity firm Blackstone.
• Advised Emerson Electric company, a software and engineering tech firm, in its $7.2 billion purchase of a large minority stake of software company Aspen Technology.

Gary Posternack, Barclays

Title: Chairman of global M&A

Number of deals: 6

Value of deals: $49.8 billion

The long-time global M&A leader moved into a new role as chairman last year so he could spend more time advising Barclays' top clients. Posternack joined the firm in 2008 after it bought Lehman Brothers, his previous firm. He led its natural-resources practice and its M&A takeover defense business. He became head of M&A worldwide in 2014.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised R1 RCM, which provides billing and financial tech to healthcare providers, on its nearly $9 billion sale to investment firms TowerBrook and CD&R.
• Advised Frontier Communications, a provider of TV, internet, and phone services, on its $20 billion sale to Verizon.
• Advised fuel pipeline and storage operator NuStar Energy on its $7.3 billion sale to gas station chain Sunoco.

Suhail Sikhtian, Goldman Sachs

Title: Global head of natural resources investment banking

Number of deals: 3

Value of deals: $45.9 billion

Sikhtian became Goldman's sole head of natural-resources investment banking in 2020. He's been with the firm since 1998, when he started in the energy and power group. He has also worked with European energy companies from London. He made his first appearance on the list last year.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised Southwestern Energy on its $11.4 billion acquisition of Chesapeake Energy, the Oklahoma City-based natural gas producer.
• Advised the energy company Endeavor in its $26 billion sale to Diamondback Energy.
• Advised Schlumberger, an energy tech firm, in its $8 billion acquisition of ChampionX, a maker of pumping equipment.

Chris Ventresca, JPMorgan Chase

Title: Global chairman of investment banking and mergers and acquisitions

Number of deals: 14

Value of deals: $45.1 billion

Ventresca, a three-decade veteran of JPMorgan, has advised on mandates spanning industrials, telecoms, consumer retail, and more. He appeared on the Rainmakers list for the first time last year.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised IBM in its $6.4 billion acquisition of software firm HashiCorp.
• Advised energy firm ALLETE in its $6.2 billion sale to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Global Infrastructure Partners.
• Advised Vizio, a consumer electronics firm, in its $2.3 billion sale to Walmart, the US retailer.

Conrad Gibbins, Jefferies Financial Group

Title: Managing director

Number of deals: 10

Value of deals: $44.5 billion

This year marks Gibbins' first appearance on the list. The banker, who's based in Texas and concentrates on the energy sector, joined Jefferies as an analyst nearly 15 years ago. Since late 2022, he's served as Jefferies' co-head of Upstream in the Americas, and a managing director.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised Diamondback Energy, an oil and gas company based in Texas, in its $26 billion acquisition of Endeavor, an energy firm.
• Advised Grayson Mill Energy, a Texas-based energy production firm, in its $5 billion sale to Devon Energy Corporation.
• Advised Franklin Mountain Energy, a Colorado-based oil and gas firm, in its $3.95 billion sale to Coterra Energy.

Drago Rajkovic, JPMorgan Chase

Title: Global chairman, mergers and acquisitions

Number of deals: 5

Value of deals: $43.6 billion

Rajkovic joined JPMorgan from Barclays in 2011 as head of technology mergers and acquisitions and has since risen to serve as a global chairman of M&A at the firm, led by CEO Jamie Dimon (shown above). At Barclays, he led tech M&A as well. It's his first time on the list.

His 2024 deals included:

• Juniper Networks/Hewlett Packard Enterprises
• Advised Squarespace, a custom website-development platform for businesses and entrepreneurs, in its $7.2 billion sale to the private-equity firm Permira.
• Intel Apollo Joint Venture/Intel Corporation

Naveen Nataraj, Evercore

Title: Senior managing director and cohead of US investment banking

Number of deals: 5

Value of deals: $40.8 billion

Nataraj, who has been at Evercore since 2002, is a member of the firm's management committee and a top banker in its technology, media, and telecommunications business. He has advised on more than $600 billion worth of transactions, the company says. His first appearance on the list was in 2022.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised Synopsys on its $35 billion acquisition of Ansys, a design and engineering software company.
• Advised private-equity firm Veritas Capital on its acquisition of NCR Voyix's digital banking business for $2.6 billion.
• Advised Gen Digital, a security software company, on its $1 billion acquisition of MoneyLion, a digital banking fintech company.

Dan Ward, Evercore

Title: Senior managing director

Number of deals: 4

Value of deals: $40.1 billion

Ward has advised on more than $450 billion worth of M&A transactions, Evercore says, and is one of the industry's top energy bankers — this is his second year in a row on the Rainmakers list. Before joining Evercore, Ward led the global natural resources investment-banking business at Deutsche Bank.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised Chesapeake Energy, the Oklahoma City-based natural gas producer, on its sale to Southwestern Energy for $11.4 billion.
• Advised Enerplus, an oil and gas producer, on its roughly $4 billion merger with Chord Energy.
• Advised ConocoPhillips on its $22.5 billion acquisition of Marathon Oil.

Riccardo Benedetti, Perella Weinberg Partners

Title: Partner

Number of deals: 2

Value of deals: $38.2 billion

Benedetti has been a senior banker with PWP since 2009, joining from Morgan Stanley, where he started his career in 1991. It's his first time on the list.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised Holcim, a Swiss building materials manufacturer, on the $30 billion spinoff of its North American operations.
• Advised German conglomerate Bosch on its $8.1 billion acquisition of the HVAC business unit owned by Johnson Controls and Hitachi.

Adam Taetle, Lazard

Title: Managing director and global head of consumer, retail, and leisure

Number of deals: 2

Value of deals: $37 billion

Taetle is a first-timer on the Rainmakers list, but he's a veteran dealmaker with consumer and retail firms like Campbell's and Keurig Dr Pepper. He started his career with Goldman Sachs in the 1990s and has since held senior leadership roles at Barclays and Evercore, which he joined in 2018 to co-lead its consumer retail group. He left Evercore earlier this year, taking a top role with Lazard in June.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised Kellanova, the Pringles and Pop-Tarts snack company formerly known as Kellogg's, on its $35.9 billion sale to Mars
• Advised Siete Foods, which makes tortillas, chips, and salsas, on its $1.2 billion sale to PepsiCo.

Michael J. Freudenstein, PJT Partners

Title: Partner

Number of deals: 2

Value of deals: $35.8 billion

This year marks Freudenstein's first time on the list. He joined PJT in 2017, having previously worked at JPMorgan in various roles. Those positions ranged from deputy head of Americas equity research to JPMorgan's head of market structure and asset management, and an investment banker focused on deals in the financial-services sector, before he left for PJT. The firm was founded by former top Morgan Stanley executive Paul Taubman, shown above.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised Discover, the financial-services firm, in its $35 billion sale to Capital One.
• Advised Victory Capital, an investment manager, in its acquisition of Amundi, a firm offering a variety of financial-services products. Terms were undisclosed.

Blair Effron, Centerview Partners

Title: Co-founder and partner

Number of deals: 5

Value of deals: $34.6 billion

Effron cofounded Centerview in 2006 and built it into an influential name in investment banking, with more than 350 employees in the US and UK. Previously he was a top investment banker at UBS and has advised companies across healthcare, media, consumer and retail, and more. He also appeared on the Rainmakers list in 2019 and 2024.

His 2024 deals included:

• Advised the independent directors of Endeavor, the talent agency and entertainment company, on a take-private sale to Silver Lake, which valued Endeavor at $13 billion.
• Advised production company Skydance Media on its $8.4 billion sale to entertainment giant Paramount.

• Advised Emerson, a technology and engineering conglomerate, on a $7.2 billion deal to acquire the remainder of Aspen Technology, a provider of software for manufacturers that Emerson bought a majority stake of in 2022.

  To see more dealmaker rankings, visit the MergerLinks website. For more on its methodology and criteria, click here.

Reed Alexander is a correspondent at Business Insider and can be reached at [email protected]. Alex Morrell is a senior correspondent and can be reached at [email protected].

• Chris Bustamante is an aesthetic nurse practitioner and owner of Lushful Aesthetics in NYC.
• He said there's been a rise in demand for male enhancement services like penis and scrotum filler.
• He also said he's had more clients come in for revisions for botched penis filler.

Three to four times a day, Chris Bustamante schedules time to talk to his clients about how they want their penis to look.

His midtown Manhattan clinic, Lushful Aesthetics, offers plenty of what Bustamante calls "bread-and-butter" beauty services like facial fillers and chemical peels. Yet the true growth of his business lies in penis filler. In 2024, the procedure accounted for over 40% of Lushful Aesthetic's $3 million revenue.

They're not alone.

Interest in penis enlargement has been booming. Multiple cosmetic surgeons told Allure in 2023 that penis filler is now their most popular procedure. Dr. David Shafer, a plastic surgeon in New York, told GQ in 2023 that his penis filler clients have grown from one or two a week to four or five a day. He now dedicates an entire floor of his clinic strictly to penis filler services.

When Bustamante, a doctor of nursing practice, opened his clinic in 2022, the only male enhancement service he offered was "Shockwave Therapy and P-Shot," which uses plasma and vacuum pump therapy to promote longer erections.

Now, he told Business Insider he does about "three penis fillers a day." His clients — typically professional men in their 30s, 40s, and 50s — pick from a menu of highly specific (and patented) enhancement procedures. They can get a thicker girth ("Girth Enhancement"), a larger scrotum ("ScroFill"), or to just be more of a shower than a grower ("ShowTox," which uses Botox to relax muscles in the penis and retain more blood when flaccid).

Many of his male clients add on body enhancement services like "instant BBLs," non-surgical butt lifts using high volumes of filler, he told BI.

Bustamente's experience reflects the recent rise in men getting beauty treatments. Between 2019 and 2022, non-invasive cosmetic procedures like fillers and Botox increased in male patients by 253%. As he sees it, it's all part of a general trend toward perfection among high-flying men.

"They're usually competitive, they want to be the best."

The men who want everything bigger

Bustamante described three main categories of male enhancement clients. There are sex workers. There are young professionals or men in their 30s and 40s who hold jobs in more creative fields like marketing. The rest, roughly half of the clients, are "high-power money-makers" — finance and real estate men in their 40s and 50s.

While most of them have average or even naturally large penises to begin with, it doesn't matter. These clients want to be "the biggest guy in the room," he said.

One recent client of Bustamante's, who works in wealth management, spent around $150,000 in three months on instant BBLs ($16,000 for 80 units or syringes), girth enhancement, and scrotum filler (each $13,500-$16,500 for 20-25 units). He did each treatment three times, building up because "he wants it to be bigger," Bustamante said. More commonly, patients will spend around $50,000 over the course of one to two years, adding more filler every six months.

Bustamante said he's had clients ask him, while he was injecting them, if this is the most filler he'd ever used. When Bustamante said he's gone higher, they'd ask him to match that number on the spot. Some clients have ended up with penises over 7.5 inches in circumference — greater than their length.

Bustamante has limits to what he'll do. "You have to look out for body dysmorphia," he said. One client he declined was a bodybuilder who used a penis pump, a common treatment for erectile dysfunction, for 40 minutes a day — going over the safe limit of 30 minutes a day. Overuse can cause swelling and severe damage, and he ended up scarring his penis, making it unsafe to inject filler. (Because of the scarring, it also wouldn't have looked good, Bustamante said).

If he notices clients booking frequent appointments to add filler, he'll insist on waiting six months before he does anything else. "We've done a lot. Enjoy it," he'll tell them. "Don't go somewhere else and try to do something and have them mess it up."

When penis filler goes wrong

The rise in penis filler popularity also means Bustamante's seen more requests for revisions after clients experienced side effects like lumping, heavy bruising, and scarring from other clinics. About 25% of his new clients come in for revisions, so much so that he officially added it as a service.

Some of the tweaks are simply cosmetic — perhaps a provider injected a penis when it was flaccid, and couldn't predict how big, small, or wonky it would look when erect. (Bustamente uses Trimix, a medication that gives men an artificial erection, before injecting.)

Other revisions are more involved. One client came to Bustamante after getting penis filler at clinics in California and Texas. In his last appointment, his penis ended up so bruised, it was black. He didn't have sex for a year. Bustamante fixed it by first dissolving all the filler and re-injecting him.

Part of the problem, Bustamante said, is that some injectors are not properly versed in the complexity of penile procedures. They may start their careers in cosmetics, performing facial filler services, and tacking on penis filler, even though it's more complicated and can be counter-intuitive.

For example, with facial filler you can inject a little bit at a time, slowly shaping a new look, he said. You don't want to do that with a penis, Bustamente said, because the penis needs to fully heal before adding more. Short bursts of filler can cause inflammation, which leads to swelling, filler migration, lumps, and pain. Instead, Bustamante prefers to inject most of the filler at once, checking in with patients three weeks later, when they should be about 90% healed.

"It's a whole different anatomy and requires really extensive experience," Bustamante said.

The healing process often involves some swelling and light bruising, but should never involve severe pain, nor should bruises be nearly black, he said.

Business continues to boom

Business continues to grow — Lushful has scaled $1 million each year since it opened. Bustamante believes having more clients makes him better at what he does. "My technique is ever-evolving," he said. He has methods for different penis shapes, whether they have a lower circumcision line or thicker foreskin, because of how the filler settles.

"If you're a hyper-critical artist, you're always looking at how you could do things better," he said. "When I do my mom's Botox, I'm like looking at her, like, 'OK, that looks good.'"

Being in a major metropolis like New York City pays dividends, too. He has returning clients fly in from other states where experienced penis filler injector pickings are slimmer — for now, anyway.

Paying tens of thousands for the perfectly crafted package might sound like a niche interest. At least anecdotally, more men do it than they care to share, Bustamente said. One of his clients, who flies in from Texas every six to eight months, had a few drinks with his friend. He opened up about getting penis filler. Turns out, his friend had tried it, too.

"It was this aha moment for them," Bustamante said. "Clearly, it's among a lot of men."

• Business Insider spoke with four agents about their experiences as women in real estate.
• While their reflections differ, they spoke about challenges in being respected and taken seriously.
• They said at times they have to prove themselves, especially when finances or construction come up.

Women make up the majority of real-estate agents in the US, but some say it isn't always the easiest workplace.

About 65% of all real-estate agents in the US were women in 2023, the most recent year data is available, according to the National Association of Realtors, the industry's largest trade organization. (There are about 2 million brokers in the country, a figure that includes both NAR members and licensed agents who aren't members.) Despite this dominance, women remain relatively underrepresented in leadership roles.

While women have made significant strides in real estate, as well as other male-dominated fields like tech, enduring inequalities and biases still create a culture where some may feel uncomfortable and, at times, marginalized.

A series of accusations of misconduct over the past year and a half has cast a spotlight on how women in the real-estate industry are treated. It's prompted some to look inward and consider whether the profession's traditional practices and lack of uniform safety precautions may have contributed. At the same time, President Donald Trump's administration and other major companies are rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that may benefit women.

To highlight the nuanced, layered reality of being a woman real-estate agent, Business Insider spoke with four brokers from across the country. They candidly shared their experiences, which included being undermined by male colleagues and feeling unsafe during showings.

You'll hear from the agents in their own words, though their reflections have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Bess Freedman, 55, CEO of Brown Harris Stevens in New York

Before becoming Brown Harris Stevens's CEO, I was an agent in New York City. I quickly learned that you have to hustle twice as hard as a woman.

I got a listing early in my career and was excited about it. I recall going to show the apartment, and the seller asked me out on a date. I declined politely and was respectful, and he was too, but it was still unprofessional.

I recall pitching a listing another time when my daughter was just a baby. The seller questioned me incessantly about whether I would have enough time to show the apartment and be available to do my job because I was a new mom.

I thought to myself, "I'm a professional — so what if I have a baby? I can still do my job."

The double standard may have diminished a bit, but if you talk to women all over this country, for the most part, if they're working, they're also managing a household and their kids' schedules.

Regardless, we're still expected to show up with all the weight of our household agendas and be professionals.

The real-estate industry has changed a lot over the years, and women have made incredible progress and gained a lot of power — I don't want to diminish that, but inappropriate comments still exist.

To say we're treated exactly the same or that it's truly equal… I think there's still work to be done.

Danielle Andrews, 30, a broker in Tallahassee, Florida

I was a middle school social studies teacher when I first got my real-estate license. I've been in the industry for nine years.

Initially, I only planned to do real estate part-time to supplement teaching — just summers and a little extra income. However, I discovered my passion for it and have been fully immersed in the industry since 2016. I opened my own brokerage in 2022.

Navigating the industry as a woman has meant balancing breaking stereotypes and maintaining authenticity. It's been a whirlwind journey — not easy, but incredibly rewarding.

Even though the average profile of real estate agents is female, they tend to be more male-dominated when it comes to related fields like inspections, construction, and development. I've lost count of how often a contractor or client has tried to "man-splain" something I'm already well-versed in.

I've had experiences where I've spoken to male inspectors or contractors, and they'll say things like, "Well, you don't or wouldn't know anything about that," or they try to speak above me — as if we're not colleagues and on the same level. Those moments have taught me the value of preparation and confidence.

Safety is another critical aspect of this industry. As real-estate agents, we often meet new people in unfamiliar locations, so it's essential to prioritize our well-being.

Sometimes, sellers forget to secure weapons or belongings, and occasionally, sellers' agents fail to communicate that the seller will still be home during a showing. Entering someone's home can be alarming, and in some cases, people may react out of fear.

I've learned to always share my location with a trusted person, along with the name and details of the person I'm meeting. Most importantly, I've learned to trust my instincts. If something feels off, I take precautions.

I'll do some due diligence, especially if I get a gut feeling that something isn't quite right.

We have a benefit through our local board association called Forewarn. It's an app that allows you to search for someone by name or phone number and shows their criminal history and public records.

I also tend to do research on social media if I'm unsure about someone, especially if they weren't referred to me by a family member or someone I know.

If something still seems off, my last two measures are to take another agent with me — preferably a male. Sometimes, my husband has come along to showings for added presence.

No transaction is worth compromising your safety.

Lindsey Harn, 38, a real-estate agent in San Luis Obispo, California

I love real estate because I believe there is endless potential for all agents regardless of their education, socioeconomic status, gender, or sexual orientation. You don't need a fancy degree if you are willing to work hard to make it happen.

In many ways, I think being a woman in this business is a huge advantage. Buying or selling a home is someone's biggest investment and can be very emotional for both the buyer and seller. Women can be a bit softer, more sensitive, and more detail-oriented regarding homebuying and selling.

That said, having entered the business at a young age, I know that older men sometimes view younger women as weak or unknowledgeable enough to enter negotiations.

I remember when I was about 22, I came to a showing with a local attorney, and he said, "Oh my god, you're the youngest real-estate agent I've ever seen."

Another time, while working with a male colleague, I had a client in his 70s who was ready to make an offer. You could tell he wasn't comfortable discussing finances or finalizing the deal with a young woman. So he asked my business partner to step in for what I guess he considered "manly" negotiations.

As my age and confidence grew, situations like this became less of a factor. But I definitely remember those moments when being young and female felt like a disadvantage.

Mallory Bogard, 39, a broker in New York

I started my real estate team at the beginning of 2020 with my husband.

I have the unique perspective of running my company with a man by my side, which has really shed light on how people receive messages from men versus women.

Women can be just as capable — or even more capable — but the buy-in is often higher when a man says it. Men sometimes have an influence over people that women struggle to garner. I've witnessed how this plays out in business many times.

Sometimes, I can deliver the same message as my husband, but how it's received changes depending on who delivers it.

For example, sometimes, we have to make recommendations that go against what our client wants. This could be about price, timeline, or entering a challenging market. We may need to deliver tough news, like, "I know you need this number, but I don't think we'll be able to get it right now."

When my husband delivers the bad news, clients are often more accepting, thinking, "OK, he's done everything he can." However, they feel I need to do more when I deliver the same message.

I'm cognizant of removing emotion from message delivery. To be quite frank, I feel like I have to provide more facts and do more research when having tough conversations than my husband does.

I'm doing everything I can to teach the women on my team how to combat this double standard.

• The Grammy Award for best new artist is considered a high honor in the music industry.
• Marquee names like The Beatles, Adele, and John Legend have all taken home the award.
• Stars like Taylor Swift, Drake, and Britney Spears were nominated for the award but didn't win.

Winning the Grammy for best new artist is considered a high honor in the music industry.

With iconic musicians like The Beatles, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, John Legend, and Adele all taking home the award, it's easy to see why this Grammy is so sought after.

But many of the biggest names in music went on to launch successful careers even though they didn't win the award.

Here are 18 of the biggest stars who were nominated for — but lost — the Grammy for best new artist.

Elton John lost to The Carpenters.

He's now one of the most famous names in the music industry, but in 1971, John lost the award for best new artist to The Carpenters.

John has since won five Grammys. He's also one of few stars to reach EGOT status, meaning he's won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.

Boyz II Men won their first Grammy the same night they lost the award for best new artist.

In 1992, Boyz II Men lost the award for best new artist to the singer-songwriter Marc Cohn.

The trio didn't leave empty-handed, as they took home the award for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals that same night.

The group has earned four Grammys and 15 nominations.

Green Day lost to Sheryl Crow.

At the 1995 ceremony, Green Day was nominated for best new artist alongside Ace of Base, Counting Crows, Crash Test Dummies, and Crow.

Although the award went to Crow, Green Day's album "Dookie" took home the prize for best alternative music performance that same night.

The band has since won four Grammys.

Shania Twain didn't win the award for best new artist, but now has five Grammys.

Known for iconic songs like "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" and "You're Still the One," Twain's music has sold millions of copies worldwide.

But when she was up for best new artist at the 1996 Grammys, Hootie & the Blowfish took home the award.

Today, Twain has five Grammys.

Britney Spears lost the award for best new artist to Christina Aguilera.

In 2000, Spears was making a name for herself in pop music, coming off the success of her debut single "...Baby One More Time."

That same year, Spears missed out on the Grammy for best new artist, which went to her "Mickey Mouse Club" costar Aguilera.

Spears won her first and only Grammy in 2005 for her song "Toxic."

Avril Lavigne has had success despite missing out on the Grammy for best new artist.

Lavigne was nominated for best new artist after the success of her debut album, which included hits like "Complicated," "Sk8er Boi," and "I'm With You."

During the February 2003 ceremony, Norah Jones took home the award.

Although Lavigne has not yet won a Grammy, she's been nominated eight times.

John Mayer now has multiple Grammys but did not win best new artist in 2003.

Like Lavigne, Mayer also lost out on the title of best new artist in 2003.

He has since taken home seven Grammys, including for song of the year.

Ciara lost the award for best new artist to John Legend in 2006.

In 2006, Ciara was nominated for best new artist alongside Fall Out Boy, Legend, Keane, and Sugarland.

Legend left with the award, but Ciara didn't go home empty-handed. That night, she won the best short-form music video award for her feature on Missy Elliott's song "Lose Control."

Taylor Swift never won best new artist, but she's won many other Grammys.

After her hugely successful Eras Tour, it's hard to imagine a time when Swift didn't win the title of best new artist at the Grammys.

However, when she was nominated in 2008, the award went to Amy Winehouse.

Since then, Swift has won 14 Grammys. She is the only artist in history to win album of the year four times.

The Jonas Brothers lost to Adele.

In 2009, the Jonas Brothers were in a tight race for best new artist alongside Adele, Duffy, Jazmine Sullivan, and Lady A.

Adele took home the prize, but the Jonas Brothers have gone on to have an extremely successful career.

Although they've yet to win a Grammy, they've been nominated for two.

Drake lost the title in 2011 but has since won five Grammys.

Although Drake now has five Grammys under his belt, he lost best new artist to jazz musician Esperanza Spalding in 2011.

Justin Bieber lost the award for best new artist to Esperanza Spalding.

Like Drake, Bieber also lost the award for best new artist to Esperanza Spalding.

He's since taken home two Grammys and earned 23 nominations.

Despite being one of the most successful female rappers, Nicki Minaj lost best new artist in 2012.

In 2012, Minaj lost out on the title of best new artist to indie-folk group Bon Iver. But Minaj made history that night as the first female rapper to perform solo at the Grammys.

Despite being nominated 12 times, Minaj has yet to win a Grammy.

Kendrick Lamar has won 17 Grammys but lost the award for best new artist in 2014.

Although Rolling Stone's Brian Hiatt called Lamar "the greatest rapper alive" in 2017, the musician didn't take home the award for best new artist in 2014.

The award went to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. But since then, Lamar has earned a whopping 57 Grammy nominations and 17 wins.

Ed Sheeran also lost the title in 2014.

Like Lamar, Ed Sheeran was up for the award for best new artist in 2014.

He later went on to win two of his four Grammys in 2016.

SZA didn't win the award in 2018, but has continued to grow her career.

In 2018, SZA was up against Khalid, Alessia Cara, Lil Uzi Vert, and Julia Michaels for best new artist. The honor went to Cara.

SZA won her first Grammy in 2022 for collaborating with Doja Cat on the hit song "Kiss Me More." She has since won a total of four Grammys.

Rosalía has won both Grammys and Latin Grammys but missed out on best new artist at both ceremonies.

In 2020, Rosalía was nominated for best new artist alongside names like Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, and Maggie Rogers.

Although Eilish walked away with the award, Rosalía made history that night as the first all-Spanish-language singer to be nominated in that category.

She was nominated in the same category at the 2017 Latin Grammys but didn't win.

She's since won two Grammys and 11 Latin Grammys.

Doja Cat lost the award for best new artist, but won her first Grammy the following year.

In 2021, Doja Cat was nominated for best new artist. She lost to Megan Thee Stallion.

She didn't have to wait long for a Grammy win, though. She won her first in 2022 for "Kiss Me More."

This story was originally published in February 2024 and most recently updated on January 30, 2025.

French startup Karmen has secured a small funding round so that it can improve its instant financing products. The company offers short-term loans to small companies facing a working capital crunch. It’s a €9 million equity-and-debt round ($9.4 million at today’s exchange rates) with Seventure Partners buying a stake in the small startup. Financière Arbevel […]

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• On social media, my sons seemed like near-perfect kids. Reality looked a little different.
• I now see my sons' experiences weren't failures, just benchmarks of growth in their own stories.
• Despite our past struggles, my sons have grown into successful, responsible men that I'm proud of.

On Instagram, it might have appeared that my children's father and I did everything right when it came to parenting. My sons — who are now 25 and 27 — each earned their Eagle Scout, graduated high school, went to college, and based on the updates and pictures I posted, they probably seemed like perfect kids. The thing is, perfect doesn't exist and in the world of curated social media posts, one family's success story is often filled with quiet mistakes, secret crises, and untold moments of so-called failure. That was our story.

Everything wasn't as it seemed

I thought I was the cool — but tough — mom, the one whose kids could talk to her about anything, but one who also had firm boundaries and expectations. School was important, as was keeping your word, being helpful, kind, and forward-thinking. It was okay to laugh, have fun, and spend time with friends. But it was just as important to be smart. I spent a majority of my sons' childhoods talking to them in depth about things like safe sex, the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and avoiding peer pressure.

While I posted glowing reports about my oldest son's grades, his hobby building computers, his travels abroad, and his witty sense of humor, only my closest friends and family knew about the time I kicked him out of the house two weeks before his graduation after our millionth argument about doing chores and being respectful turned south. Only my then-husband knew the toll that moment took on our relationship and how hard it was to repair, even though he moved back in a week later.

When, at the age of 20, that same son told me he and his girlfriend were actively trying to get pregnant and that he felt "ready" for a child — even though he was unemployed — I didn't turn to Instagram to share my concerns. But when they announced her pregnancy a few short months later, I happily shared the news of our newest family member.

My youngest son had his own struggles

Even my youngest son, who looked like a golden boy in my social media posts, had his own fair share of moments that made me doubt my ability to parent.

He was our honor and AP student, ran cross country, and was on the football team. He had a part time job, and his entire academic and career path seemed planned from the time he was 13.

When he had his first sexual experience as a teen, he talked to me about it openly, but also revealed he didn't wear a condom.

Apparently, even though I'd spent the entirety of his pubescent years teaching him and his brother about STDs, teen pregnancy (something I had personal experience with as I'd had my sons at 17 and 19), and the importance of consent, partner selection, and not breaking the law, he decided to not only skip the condom, but had sex in public at a beach on base where we were stationed, not far from our house.

Thankfully, he didn't get caught, his partner did not become pregnant, and the STD panel he later took was negative. Of course, I didn't share any of this on Instagram.

Two years later, he started smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol, and skipping classes. For six months, his father and I were on edge, trying to force our son into sobriety while desperately trying to keep him safe. In the end, it wasn't the begging, pleading, grounding, threatening, or yelling that saved our son, it was a bad case of psychosis he experienced while high that terrified him so badly, he quit using altogether.

The only people who knew were our closest friends. A year later when he graduated high school, I proudly posted his picture with a list of his accomplishments, never uttering a word about the months of chaos we'd endured.

Today, they are different people

Now that same son is engaged to a wonderful young lady, in a masters program for biochemistry and has his eye on pursuing an MD-PhD. Meanwhile, my oldest is an amazing single father to two beautiful little girls, working on his undergraduate degree, and still building (and selling) computers in his free time. Both of them are drug-free, only drink on occasion, pay their taxes, and have never been in trouble with the law. They're also genuinely funny, smart, and deeply kind people. In my eyes, they are both success stories.

We all have unique stories

Did I do everything right as a mom? Of course not. Although I loved them, kept them fed, sheltered, and (to the best of my ability) informed, I made mistakes, too. Looking back, I realize I wasn't as cool as I thought, and often failed to really listen to my sons when they needed me. I yelled when I was upset, fought with their dad often, and missed the mark when it came to seeing them as people with their own unique wants and needs. Maybe things would have been different had their dad and I divorced sooner, had I done the healing work I needed to do to recover from my own chaotic and abusive childhood, and had I been a more patient and understanding mom. Or maybe, things would have remained the same.

Watching my sons grow into men taught me to consider another possibility: What if everything went exactly how it was supposed to and my sons' experiences weren't failures at all, just benchmarks of growth in their own individual stories?

Try as we might, our kids are going to grow up and do things we don't want them to do. Even things we've specifically told them not to do. Sometimes those choices will be a reflection of our own failures as parents, but often, have nothing to do with us at all. As easy as it is to blame ourselves when things go wrong, it's also important to remember that every perceived failure is an opportunity to learn, change, and grow. There is no such thing as perfect parenting (regardless of what you see on social media) and every person — even our kids — has the right to choose their own adventure. Sometimes that leads to failure, but with enough love and patience, things often turn out just fine.

In the end, I didn't get parenting right one hundred percent of the time, but that didn't make me a bad mom, it just means I am human, and so are my kids, even if I only post the highlight reels on Instagram.

• Demi Moore has had a wide range of memorable roles in her career.
• She starred in classics like "Ghost" and "A Few Good Men" and won a Golden Globe for "The Substance."
• Here are her best and worst movies according to critics.

After 40-plus years in show business, Demi Moore has finally received award-season acclaim.

Her haunting performance in "The Substance," as a fading celebrity who takes a drug to create a younger version of herself, won her a Golden Globe Sunday. In her acceptance speech, Moore reflected on how the movie renewed her faith in her own career.

"Thirty years ago, I had a producer tell me that I was a popcorn actress, and at that time, I made that mean that this wasn't something that I was allowed to have," Moore said while clutching her Golden Globe onstage.

"I bought in, and I believed that, and that corroded me over time, to the point where I thought a few years ago that maybe this was it," she continued. "Maybe I was complete, maybe I've done what I was supposed to do. And as I was at kind of a low point, I had this magical, bold, courageous, out-of-the-box, absolutely bonkers script come across my desk called 'The Substance,' and the universe told me you're not done."

The movie is a career high for Moore, whose performance has garnered rave reviews and plenty of Oscar buzz in addition to a brand new Golden Globe.

But while "The Substance" is one of Moore's highest-rated movies — it holds a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes — she has a few duds in her catalog, too.

Below are the 10 best and 10 worst movies of Moore's career according to critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Note: This list does not include documentaries.

Here are the worst movies of Demi Moore's career.

10. "Passion of Mind" (2000)

This psychological romantic thriller stars Moore as a woman who confuses fantasy with reality, leading to her living a double life.

Fun fact: "The Substance" director Coralie Fargeat was a trainee to the assistant director on this movie.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 19%

9. "Bunraku" (2010)

Moore plays the love interest of a crime boss in this forgettable action movie.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 18%

8. (tie) "Nothing but Trouble" (1991)

Moore and Chevy Chase team up to play a couple who find themselves in a bizarre town after being arrested for running a stop sign.

Dan Aykroyd, who wrote, directed, and stars in the movie, looks unrecognizable as the 100-plus-year-old judge of the town. John Candy also stars in dual roles.

Despite the star power, the movie was panned by critics.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 15%

8. (tie) "Parasite" (1982)

No, we're not talking about the beloved Oscar-winning movie from Bong Joon-ho.

Here, Moore plays one of a group of friends running from a deadly parasite that's been let loose on the world.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 15%

8. (tie) "The Seventh Sign" (1988)

Moore stars as a pregnant woman who learns humanity is on the cusp of destruction when she rents her room to a mysterious traveler.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 15%

5. "LOL" (2012)

In the unfortunately-named "LOL," Moore plays the mother of a teen (Miley Cyrus) navigating the burgeoning world of social media. Not very many laughs were had.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 14%

4. (tie) "The Scarlet Letter" (1995)

Critics were not sold on Moore's performance as Hester Prynne in this adaptation of the classic Nathaniel Hawthorne novel.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 13%

4. (tie) "Striptease" (1995)

Regarded as one of the worst movies ever made, Moore plays a stripper who finds herself trying to make a living as a single mother while stumbling into a political scandal.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 13%

2. "Songbird" (2020)

This pandemic-era thriller about people living in a dystopian quarantine never made it into theaters and went straight to streaming.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 9%

1. "Blame It on Rio" (1983)

In "Blame It on Rio," Moore plays the daughter of Michael Caine's character, Matthew. The two go on vacation with Matthew's coworker Victor (Joseph Bologna) and his daughter Jennifer (Michelle Johnson). Things get complicated when Matthew begins having an affair with Jennifer.

If you understood this plot, you did better than the critics, who clearly weren't into this comedy.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 7%

Here are Demi Moore's best movies, according to critics.

10. "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America" (1996)

Moore voices the character of Dallas Grimes, who tries to pull a fast one on Beavis and Butt-Head in their hit movie based on their popular MTV show.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 71%

9. "Deconstructing Harry" (1997)

In this Woody Allen comedy, the writer-director also stars as a novelist named Harry Block. In the telling of the story, Allen intersects moments from Block's life with moments of his characters from his books. Moore plays one of the book characters.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 74%

8. "Ghost" (1990)

This classic romantic drama stars Moore as Molly, who is grieving the loss of her boyfriend, Sam (Patrick Swayze), who was murdered. Sam, now a ghost, must stop his killer from doing the same to Molly.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%

7. "Please Baby Please" (2022)

In this musical, Moore plays the neighbor of a young couple who witness a murder.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 77%

6. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1996)

In this Disney animated classic, Moore lent her voice to the Esmeralda character.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%

5. "A Few Good Men" (1992)

Moore held her own amongst the likes of Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, and Kevin Bacon in this beloved courtroom drama.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 84%

4. "Margin Call" (2011)

Moore knocks it out of the park in this ensemble drama about the 2007 financial crisis, which also stars Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, and Stanley Tucci.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%

4. "The Unbearable Weight of a Massive Talent"

Moore plays the ex-wife of Nicolas Cage in this fictional look at Cage's life.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%

2. "If These Walls Could Talk" (1996)

The last time Moore received a Golden Globe nomination was for this HBO movie focused on three women and their separate experiences with abortion. Moore, Cher, and Sissy Spacek star.

Moore, who was also an executive producer, garnered an Emmy nomination for outstanding made-for-TV movie.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

1. "The Substance" (2024)

Moore has received the best reviews of her career for this horror movie in which she plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a celebrity whose star has faded to the point that she hosts an aerobic TV show.

Sparkle takes matters into her own hands by taking a mysterious drug called The Substance that creates a younger version of herself, which she calls Sue (played by Margaret Qualley).

Sue becomes a sensation, but it leads to a horrific ending for them both.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

• A number of beloved movies released in 2000 are turning 25 this year.
• 2000 was the year that Hugh Jackman started playing Wolverine in "X-Men."
• It also saw the release of much-loved children's movies including "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

It's 2025, so iconic films including "X-Men" and "Cast Away" are turning 25 this year.

That means it's over two decades since Hugh Jackman first played Wolverine in the "X-Men" franchise and it became impossible to hear the name "Wilson" without imagining Tom Hanks yelling it.

Here are the 13 most iconic movies that turn 25 in 2025.

'Final Destination'

Release date: March 17, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 36%

Synopsis: "Alex Browning (Devon Sawa), is embarking on a trip to Paris. Alex experiences a premonition — he sees the plane explode moments after leaving the ground. Alex insists that everyone get off the plane, and seven people, including Alex, are forced to disembark. All watch as the plane actually explodes in a fireball. He and the other survivors have briefly cheated death, but will not be able to evade their fate for very long. One by one, these fugitives from fate fall victim to the grim reaper."

'American Psycho'

Release date: April 14, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 68%

Synopsis: "In New York City in 1987, a handsome, young urban professional, Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), lives a second life as a gruesome serial killer by night. The cast is filled by the detective (Willem Dafoe), the fiancé (Reese Witherspoon), the mistress (Samantha Mathis), the coworker (Jared Leto), and the secretary (Chloë Sevigny). This is a biting, wry comedy examining the elements that make a man a monster."

'Gladiator'

Release date: May 5, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%

Synopsis: "Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) takes power and strips rank from Maximus (Russell Crowe), one of the favored generals of his predecessor and father, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the great stoical philosopher. Maximus is then relegated to fighting to the death in the gladiator arenas."

'Mission Impossible II'

Release date: May 24, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 56%

Synopsis: "Tom Cruise returns to his role as Ethan Hunt in the second installment of 'Mission: Impossible.' This time Ethan Hunt leads his IMF team on a mission to capture a deadly German virus before it is released by terrorists. His mission is made impossible due to the fact that he is not the only person after samples of the disease. He must also contest with a gang of international terrorists headed by a turned-bad former IMF agent who has already managed to steal the cure."

'Chicken Run'

Release date: June 30, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

Synopsis: "This engaging stop-motion, claymation adventure tells the story of an American rooster who falls in love with a gorgeous hen on a British farm. The couple decides to run away from the farm, but they must first contend with the evil farmer who is intent on keeping them under her control. The chickens decide to attempt an escape so they don't get turned into chicken pot pies."

'Scary Movie'

Release date: July 7, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 51%

Synopsis: "Defying the very notion of good taste, 'Scary Movie' out-parodies the pop culture parodies with a no-holds-barred assault on the most popular images and talked-about moments from recent films, television, and commercials. The film boldly fires barbs at the classic scenes from 'Scream,' 'The Sixth Sense,' 'The Matrix,' 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' and 'The Blair Witch Project,' then goes on to mock a whole myriad of teen movie clichés, no matter the genre."

'X-Men'

Release date: July 14, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%

Synopsis: "They are children of the atom, homo superior, the next link in the chain of evolution. Each was born with a unique genetic mutation, which at puberty manifested itself in extraordinary powers. In a world filled with hate and prejudice, they are feared by those who cannot accept their differences. Led by Xavier, the X-Men fight to protect a world that fears them. They are locked in a battle with former colleague and friend, Magneto who believes humans and mutants should never co-exist."

'Snatch'

Release date: September 1, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 74%

Synopsis: "Illegal boxing promoter Turkish (Jason Statham) convinces gangster Brick Top (Alan Ford) to offer bets on bare-knuckle boxer Mickey (Brad Pitt) at his bookie business. When Mickey does not throw his first fight as agreed, an infuriated Brick Top demands another match. Meanwhile, gangster Frankie Four Fingers (Benicio del Toro) comes to place a bet for a friend with Brick Top's bookies, as multiple criminals converge on a stolen diamond that Frankie has come to London to sell."

'Billy Elliot'

Release date: September 29, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%

Synopsis: "The life of 11-year-old Billy Elliot, a coal miner's son in Northern England, is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class during his weekly boxing lesson. Before long, he finds himself in dance, demonstrating the kind of raw talent seldom seen by the class-exacting instructor, Mrs. Wilkinson. With a tart tongue and a never-ending stream of cigarettes in her hand, Mrs. Wilkinson's zest for teaching is revived when she sees Billy's potential."

'Charlie's Angels'

Release date: November 3, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 68%

Synopsis: "A trio of elite private investigators armed with the latest in high-tech tools, high-performance vehicles, martial arts techniques, and an array of disguises unleash their state-of-the-art skills on land, sea, and air to track down a kidnapped billionaire-to-be and keep his top-secret voice-identification software out of lethal hands. They're beautiful, they're brilliant, and they work for Charlie."

'Unbreakable'

Release date: November 22, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 70%

Synopsis: "David Dunn (Bruce Willis) is the sole survivor of a devastating train wreck. Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) is a mysterious stranger who offers a bizarre explanation as to why David escaped without a single scratch — an explanation which threatens to change David's family and his life forever."

'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'

Release date: November 17, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 49%

Synopsis: "In this live-action adaptation of the beloved children's tale by Dr. Seuss, the reclusive green Grinch (Jim Carrey) decides to ruin Christmas for the cheery citizens of Whoville. Reluctantly joined by his hapless dog, Max, the Grinch comes down from his mountaintop home and sneaks into town to swipe everything holiday-related from the Whos. However, the bitter grump finds a hitch in his plans when he encounters the endearing Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen)."

'Cast Away'

Release date: December 22, 2000.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

Synopsis: "Obsessively punctual FedEx executive Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) is en route to an assignment in Malaysia when his plane crashes over the Pacific Ocean during a storm. The sole survivor of the flight, Chuck washes ashore on a deserted island. When his efforts to sail away and contact help fail, Chuck learns how to survive on the island, where he remains for years, accompanied by only his handmade volleyball friend, Wilson. Will Chuck ever return to civilization and reunite with his loved ones?"

Lumen says there is 'no evidence' that customer data was accessed during the intrusion

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Navy held on to beat Oklahoma 21-20 in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Friday.

After Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. connected with tight end Jake Roberts for a 10-yard touchdown with under 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables decided to go for the win. 

Venables sent his offense back out to the field down 21-20, and the Navy defense slammed the door shut. 

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Hawkins was in the shotgun, was immediately overwhelmed by Midshipmen defenders in the backfield and eventually was taken down for the game-sealing sack on the two-point conversion attempt. 

Oklahoma started out red hot, ending the first quarter up 14-0 after running back Gavin Sawchuk ran for a 21-yard touchdown and wide receiver Zion Kearney caught a 56-yard touchdown pass. 

The Midshipmen then scored 21 unanswered points, starting in the second quarter.

FORMER CENTRAL MICHIGAN QUARTERBACK TOMMY LAZZARO, 27, KILLED IN HUNTING ACCIDENT

Navy fullback Alex Tecza then ran in for an 11-yard touchdown for Navy, cutting the Sooners' lead to 14-7.

In the third quarter, quarterback Blake Horvath rattled off the longest run in Navy’s history.

Horvath faked a handoff, dashed into the open field and took off for a 95-yard touchdown. He was initially ruled short of a touchdown as he was taken down right at the goal line, but a replay review ruled it was a touchdown. 

Horavth’s 95-yard scamper tied the game at 14 with 3:49 left in the third quarter.

The previous record for the Midshipmen came during the Roger Staubach era, when Johnny Sai had a 93-yard touchdown run against Duke in 1963.

Horvath later found the end zone again, running it in from 6 yards out to give Navy a 21-14 lead. 

Horvath completed seven of 12 pass attempts for 92 yards, while rushing the ball 18 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns.

Tecza carried 15 times for 43 yards and a touchdown in the win. 

Hawkins played well in the loss, completing 28 of 43 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 17 times for 61 yards.

Sawchuk added 13 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown.

With the loss, Oklahoma finished the season with a 6-7 record.

Navy ended its season 10-3. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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• Tim Miller was paid $225,000 for directing the first "Deadpool" movie in 2016.
• The superhero movie raked in $782 million at the box office.
• It launched a huge franchise, which is worth $2.9 billion after 2024's "Deadpool & Wolverine."

Back in 2016 Tim Miller directed "Deadpool", launching a lucrative global superhero franchise — work he said earned him a relatively small $225,000.

The violent, R-rated movies star Ryan Reynolds as the titular foul-mouthed superhero. According to TheNumbers.com, the franchise is now worth over $2.9 billion after the riotous success of the third film, "Deadpool & Wolverine."

Collider reported that Miller discussed his salary during a recent panel at the CCXP convention in Brazil, which took place from December 5-8.

He said: "You guys might not know, but it's not really a profitable thing to be a first-time director in Hollywood, and I'll tell you exactly. I got $225,000 to direct 'Deadpool.' I know it sounds like a lot of money, but for two years of work, that's not a ton of money."

Miller said he was grateful for the opportunity, but joked that at the time, his agent told him: "'Dude, you make more on an episode of 'The Walking Dead!'"

The director went on to say that there's a misconception about typical salaries in Hollywood. "I think a lot of people think that everyone's getting paid millions and millions in Hollywood. It's just not the case, not always," he said.

The minimum salary for members of the Director's Guild of America in 2024 is $237,670 for a guaranteed shoot of 10 weeks.

In July 2024, Reynolds said he "let go of getting paid" for "Deadpool" because it was a passion project for him and he wanted to see it on the big screen. The film was a risk because of its violence and profanity, which meant that younger fans and families couldn't go see it.

Regardless, it still made $782 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. For Miller, that success overrides the small salary.

He said: "You know what I feel? Nothing but pride. I mean, I feel like every time I walk down the aisles out there on the floor of CCXP and I see all these Deadpool figurines, I think they wouldn't be here if we hadn't made that film. And I feel uniquely fortunate that I could be part of it."

Miller's work on "Deadpool" propelled his career forward. He directed 2019's "Terminator: Dark Fate" as well as episodes of Netflix's "Love, Death, and Robots." He also created the animated anthology video game series, "Secret Level," for Amazon Prime Video.

He also joked that he should've negotiated a merchandise deal into his contract.

"Then my second thought is, I wish my director deals had a piece of the merchandising so that I could get some money from all of that."

Rob Mitchell, the director of theatrical insights at Gower Street Analytics, told Business Insider that backend and merchandise deals allow actors and directors to take on "riskier" projects that earn more if the project is successful.

He said: "The most famous one is Jack Nicholson's deal on the original 'Batman' film that he got a huge payday out of. He took a salary cut, but took a backend and made an absolute fortune of it. That isn't uncommon, that would happen with big stars in riskier projects."

• My family's stay at a Mexico resort fell short despite a previous positive experience.
• The resort's lack of a booking system led to long waits for our large group of eight people.
• Mexico's tourism industry is growing, with a shift toward luxury-focused properties.

In August, I traveled from the UK to Mexico for a two-week vacation with my extended family of eight.

We stayed at The Fives Beach Hotel and Residences, an all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen that has five pools, 11 restaurants, and a spa.

We previously vacationed at the same resort in 2016 and loved it so much that we decided to stay there again on this trip for my uncle's 60th birthday.

But this time around, the hotel didn't meet all of our expectations and I would now think twice about booking an all-inclusive resort.

Our group of eight collectively paid at least £19,494, or around $25,434, for our two-week package vacation, which included flights from the UK.

Next time, I'd rather spend my money on an Airbnb or a different hotel that can better accommodate large groups.

We got upgraded on the second day

Half of my extended family lives in England, while my parents, my partner, and I live in Scotland.

We each booked the trip separately since we were traveling from different locations and had slightly different budgets.

My partner and I paid £4,394, or around $5,732, for our portion of the trip through TUI, a travel group that specializes in package vacations.

The price included our round-trip flights from Glasgow to Cancún, airport transfers, and our standard room at The Fives Beach Hotel and Residences with all food and drinks included.

Our standard room was supposed to have a king-sized bed, a bathroom, and a shower. But when we arrived, we noticed two single beds with a dresser between them.

We told reception about the issue, and to their credit, we were upgraded to a suite the following day for no extra cost.

Our suite had a king-sized bed, an open-plan living room and kitchen with two flatscreen TVs, and a balcony that overlooked the pool below.

This is the same type of suite that my parents booked, which cost an additional £500, or around $652.

We were delighted with the free upgrade; the resort more than made up for the mix-up.

A disaster dining experience

The resort's restaurants were vast, ranging from Mexican to Italian and Mediterranean food.

During our stay in 2016, there was a booking system for guests to reserve dinner each night. We never had an issue getting a reservation, despite the fact that there were nine of us.

When eight of us returned in August, we found out that the booking system had been scrapped, and guests were now required to show up without a booking.

We were probably impacted more than other guests because we were a large group. Sometimes, we had to wait in long lines, or we were asked to come back later. On one occasion, we had to wait for two hours to get a table for dinner.

We didn't have to wait as long for lunch, but this was because we were often asked to dine separately at two tables of four.

The only meal that presented no obstacles was the breakfast buffet, which was held in a giant restaurant with plenty of tables and staff.

We had paid a lot of money for this trip to celebrate my uncle's birthday. But this situation made my family and I feel like we were an inconvenience or an annoyance to the staff, who seemed to struggle to accommodate us.

A haphazard solution

During the second week of our trip, a staff member asked for feedback on our overall experience. My mom mentioned the issues we'd been having at the restaurants.

To our surprise, the staff member said the resort would make an exception for our group and allow us to reserve tables for the final week of our stay.

Our party was then given a timetable with reservations for dinner each night. We were thrilled by the turn of events.

This was definitely an improvement, but even after we were given the timetable, two of the restaurants completely forgot about our reservations when we showed up for dinner.

We tried ordering room service a couple of times, and we enjoyed it. But we couldn't keep this up every night, as the menu options were limited to mostly fast food and snacks such as pizza and nachos.

It's not unusual for all-inclusive resorts to host large groups such as wedding parties, bachelor and bachelorette groups, or families with children.

With that said, I couldn't understand why this resort would implement a system that worked against larger groups, who would evidently be paying a lot of money to be there.

Mexico ranks among the top 10 most favored tourist destinations worldwide, Miguel Turroco, the secretary of tourism, shared in a Visit Mexico report in June.

The country's tourism industry saw growth of 5.5% in the fourth quarter of last year — almost double the growth of the country's GDP — according to Turroco.

Duncan Greenfield-Turk, CEO of the travel agency Global Travel Moments, tells me that all-inclusive resorts have "maintained their popularity" in recent years, though he noticed a general shift toward luxury-focused properties "as major brands like Marriott and Hyatt expand their portfolios in Mexico."

But for groups who want something different, he recommends renting a property in Puerto Vallarta or Tulum, which he said have "plenty of space and personalized services."

Overall, my family still had a good experience, and we appreciated that the resort addressed our concerns.

I'm not saying I'll never try an all-inclusive resort again, but I won't be returning to this resort or any others without a booking system.

Next time, I'll follow Greenfield-Turk's suggestion to rent a private property that can better accommodate larger groups.

The Fives Beach Hotel and Residences did not respond to a request for comment.

• 2024 may not have been as big a year for television as 2023 – but there were plenty of gems.
• Series like FX's "Shōgun," Prime Video's "Fallout," and Netflix's "Baby Reindeer" cut through the noise.
• Here are the BI entertainment team's favorite television series of the year.

Amid shake-ups in the television industry, 2024 still delivered a slate of great TV series ranging from familiar continuations to ambitious debuts.

That includes series like FX's "Shōgun," an immersive adaptation that brought top Japanese talent to American screens; the Brian Jordan Alvarez comedy "English Teacher," which turns high school culture wars into comedy fodder; and hits like "Baby Reindeer," which captivated the world with a story pulled from creator Richard Gadd's life.

Here are our favorites from this year.

"Abbott Elementary" season 4

Season four of "Abbott Elementary" picks up with Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) officially dating after their slow-burn romance played in the show's previous seasons. At the start of this season, the pair are unsuccessfully trying to keep their relationship a secret from their Abbott Elementary coworkers when they return to school.

The writing of "Abbott Elementary" remains as sharp and culturally relevant as ever, and the latest season sprinkles in new characters that keep the show fresh and exciting — from Jacob's younger brother Caleb (Tyler Perez) and an IT guy named O'Shon (Matthew Law) whom the staff have a crush on to a lovable guinea pig named Sweet Cheeks who breaks through Melissa's (Lisa Ann Walter) tough exterior. — Olivia Singh

"Arcane" season 2

Netflix and Riot Games' "Arcane" is one of the most impressive and ambitious animated works of the past decade — and while it doesn't always find its footing, the end result is still so spectacular.

The series is adapted from Riot Games' massively popular video game "League of Legends," honing in on a small cast of characters who live in Piltover, the gleaming city of progress, and Zaun, its less-than-scintillating undercity. The conflict between the two cities has reached a critical point by season two. Unfortunately for all parties, so has the evolution of Hextech, a magic-powered technology that has spiraled out of control and turned one of its developers into a misguided messiah. Oops!

Season two is nothing if not ambitious and widens its scope while leveling up its already excellent animation, courtesy of the French studio Fortiche. In the process, it loses some of the intimate character work and tight focus that made its first season truly extraordinary. Still, the second season serves as a fitting conclusion and is a harbinger of good things to come from Riot's entertainment arm. — Palmer Haasch

Read Haasch's interview with "Arcane" showrunner Christian Linke.

"Baby Reindeer"

Few shows caused as much of a stir this year as "Baby Reindeer," starring and written by comedian Richard Gadd. Netflix and the creator himself billed the series as a true story based on Gadd's real-life experience of being stalked by an older woman. Unfortunately, the show's stalker character, Martha Scott, was quickly outed as Fiona Harvey, who took legal action against the streamer.

Despite all the behind-the-scenes controversy, "Baby Reindeer" is a work of art. Gadd lays himself bare as Donny, who's loosely based on himself. He's a powerhouse in episode four, which flashes back to explain the source of Donny's trauma before meeting Martha.

It's an engrossing watch with equally powerful performances from Jessica Gunning, who plays the disturbed but deeply sad Martha, and Nava Mau, who plays Donny's girlfriend, Teri. — Caralynn Matassa

Read about the legal drama behind "Baby Reindeer.'

"The Boys," season 4

If "The Boys" is Prime Video's NSFW answer to superhero fare like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then season four feels like the equivalent of "Avengers: Infinity War" — minus a snap from a villain that wipes out half the universe.

Season four of "The Boys" is darker than past seasons, as the characters confront deep-seated traumas. For an aging Homelander (Anthony Starr), this means grappling with the legacy he'll leave behind for his son Ryan. For his nemesis Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), it means coming to terms with his looming death and trying to prevent Ryan from succumbing to Homelander's darkness.

It's a season filled with even more gory, jaw-dropping scenes and yet another Emmy-worthy performance by Starr, particularly in Homelander's gory homecoming episode.

The endgame is nearing, with a fifth and final season of "The Boys" likely premiering in 2026. Season four ends with the perfect foundation for all hell to break loose one last time. — OS

"English Teacher"

It's astounding that it took this long for Brian Jordan Alvarez to get a series order after the release of his excellent 2016 web series "The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo" — but thankfully, "English Teacher" premiered this year.

The series stars Alvarez as Evan Marquez, a beleaguered but idealistic Texas high school teacher who comes under fire at work when a parent complains about him kissing his ex-boyfriend in front of the students.

While "English Teacher" embraces the thorny politics of being an American educator in 2024, it doesn't spin them into saccharine teaching moments or cheap jokes. It mines them for character threads and comedy. — PH

"Fallout"

With "Fallout," Jonathan Nolan proved that prestige-y video game adaptations weren't exclusive to HBO. Rather than directly adapting one of the multiple games in the postapocalyptic "Fallout" universe, Nolan instead leverages the style, humor, and striking visual identity of the games to show us something new.

"Fallout" stars Ella Purnell as Lucy, a naive resident who grew up in an underground bunker known as a Vault, established to protect humanity from nuclear armageddon. However, after tragedy befalls her home, she ventures to the surface, only to learn it isn't as deserted or unsurvivable as she was led to believe.

The series features stellar performances from Purnell and Walton Goggins, who spends most of the season admirably noseless. And while it's set in the grim aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse, it's also irreverently funny and endearing. — PH

Read Eammon Jacobs' review of "Fallout" and Jason Guerrasio's interview with Walton Goggins.

"Hacks" season 3

The Max original "Hacks" has only gotten better with age, and in season three, it feels like the show has hit its stride.

The show follows veteran stand-up comedian Deborah Vance, who, on the coattails of a successful comedy special, is gunning for her dream: a late-night hosting gig. After cutting her young writer, Ava Daniels, loose at the end of season two, Deborah realizes that she needs Ava — and Ava craves working with Deborah again, too.

This central relationship — and all the ways Deobrah and Ava support, encourage, and mess each other up — is constantly in flux. Season three not only succeeded in being funnier and more resonant than its predecessors but also in shifting Deborah and Ava's power dynamic into something new and a bit dangerous ahead of season four. — PH

Read Haasch's interview with "Hacks" stars Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Mark Indelicato.

"Industry" season 3

Move over, "Succession" — there's another contender for the best HBO show about horny, psychopathic capitalists. "Industry," the show about London's most dedicated and depraved bankers, finally broke through to the mainstream with its third season.

Seasons one and two delivered well-written, well-acted, character-driven drama about the highs and lows of a group of young bankers trading stocks (and spit). Still, season three upped the ante, spending more time away from the office in lavish locations, such as the English countryside, a yacht in the Mediterranean, and a Davos-like conference in Switzerland.

The change in scenery enhanced the story and deepened our understanding of the series' core group of complicated characters, most of whom have greatly evolved since we first saw them sitting and sweating at their Pierpoint desks.

All of it leads to an explosive finale that's massive in both budget and sheer plot, effectively wiping the slate clean for a now-confirmed season four. It's an appropriately daring move for a show confident in its vision. It's peak TV at its peak. — Samantha Rollins

Read Rollins' interview with "Industry" showrunners Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.

"Love Island USA" season 6

There were many (many) reality dating shows that aired in 2024. Having regrettably watched most of them, I can confirm that the latest installment of "Love Island USA" blew them all out of the water.

The franchise, which spun off of the UK edition, has the secret sauce that makes this genre sing. It's largely thanks to a format that other shows have tried — and failed — to replicate, wherein participants must constantly recouple to find true love (and win a cash prize).

Season six had a particularly explosive set of personalities among its cast, leading to some serious drama, shocking betrayals, truly memorable moments, and fan-favorite standouts, including Serena Page, Leah Kateb, and Jana Craig. — CM

"A Man on the Inside"

"A Man on the Inside" is initially presented as a spy mystery series as Charles Nieuwendyk (Ted Danson), a widower who recently lost his wife, accepts a job to go undercover in a retirement home.

That's all background noise to the main event, which follows the lives of a kooky gang of residents who find community with each other after being left behind by their loved ones.

Anyone who has seen Danson in any of his other many roles would not be surprised that he is an incredible leading man. However, the show's real strength is the supporting cast, especially Margaret Avery, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Sally Struthers, who provide so much humor and heart that they may make you shed tears.

"A Man on the Inside" proves we really need more TV shows centered on older characters, and there's ample talent out there to make those stories worth watching. — Ayomikun Adekaiyero

Read Rollins' interview with "A Man on the Inside" creator Mike Schur.

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith"

Prime Video's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," a reboot of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's 2005 film (mostly in name only), is deeply funny, emotionally stirring, and clever.

Sure, both titles share a similar premise — a husband and wife who are both assassins — but the television series flips it on its head to create something much better.

Donald Glover and Maya Erskine play two strangers who, upon taking a new job as shady agents for a mysterious boss, are paired together as a cover story.

The 10-episode season features a laundry list of guest stars, ranging from Ron Perlman to Micaela Coel. — PH

Read Haasch's review of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and Jacobs' interview with guest star Ron Perlman.

"Nobody Wants This"

Rom-coms are so back.

Six years after Netflix was credited with a rom-com renaissance thanks to hits like "Set It Up" and "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," the streamer struck gold again with "Nobody Wants This," a comedy series starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. The show became an instant hit, proving audiences yearn for more high-quality modern rom-coms.

"Nobody Wants This," created by Erin Foster and loosely inspired by her love story, follows Noah (Brody), an attractive and newly single rabbi, and Joanne (Kristen Bell), the outspoken agnostic host of a sex podcast. Despite their different views on religion and lifestyle, they pursue a relationship.

Noah and Joanne's swoon-worthy first kiss scene went viral, people realized that Brody had been leading man material all along, and the show jumped to the No. 2 slot on the streamer's Top 10 list for English-language TV in the week of its debut. Unsurprisingly, "Nobody Wants This" will be returning for a second season, which begins filming in February. — OS

"One Day"

The second attempt at bringing David Nicholls' bestselling novel "One Day" to the screen (after a 2011 film adaptation) is a rousing success.

The novel of the same name is already beautifully tragic, relatable, and perspective-altering, but the Netflix show amplifies all these strengths with gut-punching performances from leads Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod, who play destined lovers Dexter and Emma.

With each episode set in a different year, "One Day" takes audiences on a 14-year journey as the two grow into adults and fall in love with other people and each other, but never at the right time. For romantics or young people worried about the future, this is the show to watch from 2024. — AA

"The Penguin"

Colin Farrell leads the spinoff sequel to the 2022 film "The Batman," playing the titular comic book villain Oz "Penguin" Cobb. It was fascinating how quickly it became apparent that the show had more in common with "The Sopranos" than nearly anything DC Studios has released.

Farrell utterly transforms as Cobb, the mobster clawing to the top in Gotham after the death of crime boss Carmine Falcone in "The Batman" left a power vacuum. Still, Cristin Milioti is the real standout as Sofia Falcone, Carmine's daughter and accused psychopathic serial killer, fresh out of a stay in Arkham State Hospital. — CM

Read Jacobs' interview with "The Penguin" showrunner Lauren LeFranc.

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives"

On its surface, "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" was a show greenlit solely because of a TikTok scandal where several couples in a Mormon community were implicated in an alleged swinging scandal. That premise didn't seem like it'd carry far, but turns out the swinging was possibly the least dramatic thing about these women.

After a moderately slow start, "Secret Lives" turns the dial up to 11 in episode four, a group birthday vacation where all hell breaks loose as the group of friends and frenemies start calling one another out. (Shout out to the truth box, the real MVP.)

It was hard not to root for Taylor Frankie Paul and follow her tumultuous relationship with Dakota Mortensen or to root against the deeply annoying Whitney Leavitt, who became the sleeper villain of season one. We're dying to see what becomes of MomTok when the show returns in 2025. — CM

Read Haasch's interview with Taylor Frankie Paul and Mayci Neeley.

"Shōgun"

There was no stopping "Shōgun" at the 2024 Emmys, and for good reason. Based on James Clavell's 1975 novel, the stunning historical epic focuses on an English sailor who finds himself shipwrecked in Japan and crosses paths with Lord Toranga, a powerful warlord.

With incredible performances, sweeping visuals, and mesmerizing battle sequences, it's no wonder the show set a record for the most Emmys won by a single season of television and that the creators decided to rethink their limited series plan and continue the show with second and third seasons. — CM

"The Traitors" season 2

They were the words heard 'round the reality TV-loving world: "Oh lord, not Ekin-Su."

Few shows were as memed as "The Traitors," the US iteration of the international competition series where reality stars and celebrities try to deceive one another to claim a cash prize.

Season one, which aired in 2023, was entertaining, but season two reached new heights, largely thanks to compulsively watchable characters like meme factory Phaedra Parks and "Shahs of Sunset" star MJ Javid, who gave us one of the best reaction shots of the year. — CM

Read Matassa's interview with "Big Brother" alum Dan Gheesling, who tried and failed to extend his gaming skills to "The Traitors."

"X-Men '97"

Not only did "X-Men '97" expertly capture the spirit of the original animated "X-Men" series, but it also made it feel modern and relevant to the 2020s amid some gorgeously animated action.

The performances are seamless with the original show, adding new dimensions to the Marvel Universe that fans, new and old, will appreciate.

It deserves all of the praise for easily navigating the messy Jean Grey/Madelyne Prior clone saga from the comics. Season two can't come quickly enough. — Eammon Jacobs

• Single women in the US are outpacing men in homebuying, the National Association of Realtors found.
• In 2024, single women represent 20% of all homebuyers, compared to 8% for single men.
• Three single women shared with BI their motivations for buying a home without a partner or a spouse.

Karla Cobreiro, 33, lived with her parents for nearly a decade after college, diligently saving to buy her own home.

"I didn't want to be house-poor or struggle financially," Cobreiro, a publicist, told Business Insider. "I waited for the right moment — when I had a higher-paying job, had saved up a large down payment, and had built a solid emergency fund.

In 2022, she purchased a 900-square-foot condo in Downtown Doral, a Miami suburb, for around $400,000. She was 31 and single.

"I didn't have a partner at the time, but I didn't think that should stop me," Cobreiro said. "So I went for it."

Cobreiro is one of many single women in the US who haven't let the absence of a relationship or marriage stop them from buying a home — an achievement long seen as a key milestone of wealth building and the American dream.

An analysis of data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that single women have consistently outpaced single men in homebuying since the organization began tracking data in 1981.

The chart below shows that since 2020, the share of single women homebuyers has continued to increase steadily, while the share of single men has declined.

By 2024, the gap has reached its widest, with single women representing 20% of all homebuyers, compared to 8% for single men.

Single women find independence in homeownership

So why are single women statistically more likely to purchase homes than single men?

Brandi Snowden, NAR's director of member and consumer survey research, told BI that it largely comes down to lifestyle choices and women's unique societal roles.

Snowden explained that many single women purchase homes because they desire independence, have experienced divorce, and are responsible for raising children.

NAR found that female buyers are typically older than their male counterparts, with the median age for single women at 60, compared to 58 for single men.

"These buyers may be recently divorced or purchasing a home not just for themselves but also for their children and parents," Snowden said.

"It's just me and this mortgage."

Cobreiro said that buying a home without a spouse has its own challenges, such as settling for a smaller condo since she's not part of a DINK household — an acronym for "dual income, no kids."

Data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances shows that DINKs have a median net worth of over $200,000. This financial advantage enables them to more easily afford housing or spend their disposable income on luxuries like boats and expensive cars.

Despite the financial benefits of a two-income household, many women have chosen to live independently in an era of increasing financial and social autonomy.

Cobreiro is responsible for a 30-year mortgage, which includes $2,500 in monthly payments and an additional $1,000 in HOA fees — all of which fall entirely on her.

"Though I live comfortably, If I get laid off, break a leg, or face an emergency, I'm on my own, she said. "I always joke to my friends, "It's just me and this mortgage."

Still, she believes the benefits of sole home ownership outweigh the risks of waiting to purchase with a boyfriend.

"I'm glad I didn't wait until I was in a relationship or married to buy a home," she said. "Owning a home with someone you're not committed to can get tricky, especially if you break up. There's no prenup; if you disagree about selling, that can get messy."

Some women say no prenup, no co-owning

New Yorker Jessica Chestler, 33, shares a similar perspective to Cobreiro.

In 2022, Chestler, a real-estate agent with Douglas Elliman and a business owner, purchased a three-bedroom condo in Williamsburg for $3.25 million.

She told BI that she viewed homeownership as an investment in her future, one she wasn't willing to risk with someone she wasn't fully committed to.

"When you're buying a home with someone else, there's obviously a lot more to consider, especially if you're not married," Chestler said. "There's always that uncertainty: What happens if you break up — how do you divide the assets?"

Chestler, who also renovated her home, said the greatest benefit of owning solo is the ability to rely on herself and the freedom to live on her own terms.

"I only had to consider myself," she said. "I didn't have to worry about anyone else's opinion. I loved the apartment, knew my numbers, and was confident I could make it work — That sense of comfort was really important to me."

Women say they don't need a knight in shining armor

Some single women who buy homes may have boyfriends but aren't waiting for a ring to start building wealth through home equity.

Take real-estate agent Ayriel Von Schert, who, in February, purchased a 2,280-square-foot townhouse for $365,000 in Mesa, Arizona, without a cosigner.

Although Von Schert, 30, is in a long-term committed relationship, she wanted to take control of her financial future.

"I think many women feel the same way: Why wait for someone else to help you achieve your goals?" she told BI.

Her decision to buy alone could pay off in the long run. Another unit in Von Schert's complex is on the market for $410,000. If it sells for that price, her home will have appreciated by about $35,000 in one year.

"In a few years, I might sell this place or keep it and rent it out while buying another property," she said. "My long-term goal is to build a real estate portfolio and earn residual income, and I feel like I'm definitely on the right path."

For now, she and her boyfriend are living like roommates, equally splitting the bills for the home, including utilities and the mortgage.

She said it's a win-win situation for both of them.

"I don't think he minds because we no longer have a landlord telling us what we can or can't do," she said.

Are you a single or unmarried woman who purchased a home? Contact this reporter at [email protected].

The Army-Navy game Saturday was watched by an unprecedented number of viewers.

The Midshipmen pulled off the upset in Landover, Maryland, 31-13, to increase their all-time series lead, 63-55-7, and end a two-game losing streak to the Black Knights.

For the first time since 2020, Donald Trump attended the game, this time as president-elect.

President Biden has not attended the rivalry game since being elected, but he did take in the contest in 2011 and 2012.

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Trump took in the game with Vice President-elect JD Vance, Elon Musk, Pete Hegseth, Daniel Penny and others from a luxury suite. And it may be fair to say that many tuned in to get a glimpse of the soon-to-be 47th president.

In fact, with Trump in attendance, the game had its highest viewership on record.

The game drew an average of 9.4 million viewers, the most since at least 1990. Its previous high was 8.45 million in 1992, and this year's figure is a 31% increase over last year's audience of 7.2 million. 

It's undoubtedly the most-watched Army-Navy game since CBS took over airing rights in 1996. In fact, it was the most-watched game on CBS this year, behind only the Big Ten title game.

It now ranks as the 11th most-watched college football game this season, ranking ahead of three conference championship games, including the Big 12, and is the most-watched game that did not involve the Big Ten or SEC.

Viewers of the game have increased since the game moved to the week after conference championship weekend in 2009. It is now the lone college game of the day. This year, both teams were ranked for the first time since 1960. This year's game was also the highest-scoring Army-Navy affair since 2011.

Navy got out to a 14-0 lead, and despite Army cutting its deficit to four, the Midshipmen never looked back, scoring a 52-yard touchdown and then finding the end zone again shortly after a fake punt. With the victory, Navy earned the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, having also beaten Air Force earlier this year.

Army had won six of the previous eight meetings after Navy rode a hot streak of winning 16 of 17 meetings. The Midshipmen are 9-3 on the season, while Army fell to 11-2. 

Both teams now focus on their respective bowl games. Navy will face Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl, and Army will face Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl.

• The Syrian Democratic Forces, a US partner in Syria, downed an MQ-9 Reaper drone.
• The incident shows the SDF has acquired air defenses of some sort.
• It's very possible that the SDF downed a low-flying Reaper with a shoulder-fired missile.

America's ally in Syria accidentally shot down an advanced US drone, suggesting these Kurdish-led forces have acquired some kind of air defenses.

A $30 million MQ-9 Reaper drone wasn't the only victim. A day later, the Syrian Democratic Forces — who partnered with the US to fight the Islamic State in Syria a decade ago — purposely shot down a Turkish drone.

A US official confirmed to Defense News that the SDF misidentified the MQ-9 as a threat on December 9 and shot it down, without specifying what kind of weapon was used; the SDF hasn't publicly acknowledged the incident. However, the SDF did release footage purportedly showing its forces shooting down Turkey's Aksungur drone.

"The SDF would need more capable air defense systems than older MANPADs (man-portable air defense system) like the Strela-2 to shoot down an MQ-9 Reaper unless the drone was flying far below its typical operating ceiling, possibly due to mission requirements or technical issues," Freddy Khoueiry, a global security analyst for the Middle East and North Africa at the risk intelligence company RANE, told Business Insider.

A Reaper drone has a 66-foot wingspan and can fly up to 50,000 feet in altitude, beyond the range of shoulder-fired Strela-2 missiles. The remotely piloted aircraft frequently carry Hellfire ground-attack missiles.

"A SHORAD (short-range air defense) or medium-range radar-guided SAM (surface-to-air missile) system would be required to effectively engage a Reaper drone operating at its standard altitude," Khoueiry said.

It is more likely that the SDF has shoulder-fired missiles due to their proliferation, which also have the benefit of being harder to spot than truck-mounted missile launchers. If the MQ-9 was downed by a MANPAD, it suggests it was flying very low, Khoueiry said.

The Aksungur is a much larger and more advanced drone than Turkey's widely exported Bayraktar TB2, but it is not in the same league as the American MQ-9.

"Aksungur drones are capable, 'middle-class drones' that are typically used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, although increasingly modified to carry weapons," Nicholas Heras, senior director of strategy and innovation at the New Lines Institute, told BI.

Syrian soldiers abandoned their bases and weapons stockpiles during the dramatic fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in early December. Israel has already moved in and bombed large quantities of them. Turkey has also moved to prevent the SDF from capturing weapons. Turkish intelligence destroyed 12 trucks with missiles and other heavy weapons in the northeastern Kurdish city of Qamishli, and Turkish drones targeted abandoned tanks, armored vehicles, and rocket launchers strewn across northeast Syria.

"It is unlikely that the SDF captured and were able to quickly operationalize Syrian regime air defenses within the past week," RANE's Khoueiry said. "Furthermore, Israeli strikes have significantly degraded such systems across Syrian territory, making it even more difficult for a US-backed militia to acquire and effectively operate them."

Turkish media reported earlier this year that US troops in northeast Syria were training the SDF how to use the AN/TWQ-1 Avenger short-range air defense system, which fires Stinger missiles. However, sources in Syria cited by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said only US troops operate the Avengers, which protect their bases against Iran-backed militia drone attacks.

"The challenge for the SDF to use systems such as the SA-2s (Soviet-made S-75s) or Avengers is that these anti-air systems require a logistical network to operate that is cumbersome for a non-state actor, especially if that non-state actor doesn't have accompanying anti-air capabilities to protect those systems," Heras said.

Ceng Sagnic, chief of analysis of the geopolitical consultancy firm TAM-C Solutions, believes it is possible the SDF is "independently operating" some air defenses in Syria.

"However, it should be noted that Kurdish groups have long had access to short-range air defense missiles, particularly those acquired from the black market and not NATO standard," Sagnic told BI. "There is also a possibility that an operator of one of these systems got lucky that day."

"In any case, the incident demonstrates the readiness of Kurdish groups in Syria to respond to drone operations, especially those conducted by Turkey," Sagnic said.

The Kurdistan Workers Party, commonly known by its PKK acronym, had Strela-2 missiles as far back as the 1990s and shot down two Turkish helicopters over northern Iraq in 1997.

The Middle East Eye news outlet reported earlier this year that Iran had transferred air-breathing anti-drone loitering missiles to the PKK. One such munition purportedly brought down an Aksungur over Iraqi Kurdistan in May. Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen have used the Iranian-made 358 missile to shoot down Israeli and American drones, including a number of MQ-9s.

It's unclear if the SDF — whose main Kurdish component Turkey charges with inextricable PKK links — acquired such a system.

"The claim that Iran supplies the PKK (and, by extension, the SDF) with a significant number of anti-drone missiles is highly questionable," Sagnic said. "Only a consistent pattern of successful anti-drone strikes by the SDF in the near future could indicate enhanced capabilities by the Kurdish group, and a single drone interception is not sufficient proof."

"However, there have been at least two reported interceptions of Turkish drones over northern Iraq in recent months, suggesting that Kurdish groups are adapting to the so-called drone wars, though their continued success remains uncertain."

Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history. His articles have appeared in a variety of publications focused on the region.

CBS college football analyst Gary Danielson was irate about a controversial third-quarter call during Navy’s stunning win over Army on Saturday.

Midshipmen quarterback Blake Horvath threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Eli Heidenreich to put the team up 21-10 with 6:34 left in the frame. Heidenreich received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty immediately after the play when he spiked the ball near the foot of Army linebacker Elo Modozie.

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Danielson said he thought Modozie walked into the spike. CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore agreed with Danielson’s assessment.

"Terrible call. We’ve got warriors out there and they make a call like that. Stay out of the game," Danielson said.

PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP TAKES IN ARMY-NAVY GAME WITH POWERHOUSE POSSE

Army would go down the field and kick a field goal on their next drive. But Navy answered with a Horvath rushing touchdown. The Midshipmen then forced a turnover in the fourth quarter, which led to another field goal, and the game would be pretty much over from there.

Navy won the game 31-13.

Horvath was 4-of-9 passing for 107 yards and two passing touchdowns. He also ran for 204 yards and scored two touchdowns.

"I think they're like us. We want to be significant," Navy head coach Brian Newberry said of the win. "I think we both were this year, and I think because of that maybe there was a little more significance, a little more interest maybe in this game."

Navy moved to 9-3 with the win. The Black Knights fell to 11-2.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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History repeated itself in the annual Army-Navy clash.

The Midshipmen are now 63-55-7 all time against the Black Knights with their 31-13 victory Saturday in Landover, Md.

Navy got out to a 14-0 lead, scoring a touchdown on its first drive, then turning an interception into seven more points. Army cut its deficit in half before going into the locker room. A field goal to begin the second half made it a four-point game.

Navy, though, delivered a big blow with a 52-yard touchdown catch and run by running back Eli Heidenreich to regain a 21-10 lead late in the third. After the Black Knights settled for a field goal, they forced a Navy punt — or so they thought.

The Midshipmen, on fourth and 5 from their own side of the field, ran a fake punt, and nose tackle Landon Robinson ran 29 yards for a first down to keep the drive alive. Four plays later, Blake Horvath rushed in for the score, and it was a 28-13 lead for Navy.

Hoping for a miracle, Army quarterback Bryson Daily threw a wild pass on the run that was intercepted, and the Midshipmen iced the game with a field goal to go up three possessions with just under four minutes to go. After another pick and a first down, Navy ran out the clock. 

With the victory, Navy earned the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, having also beaten Air Force earlier this year.

The teams participated in the "Honoring the Fallen" tradition by singing each other's alma mater.

ARMY-NAVY GAME IS 'COLLEGE FOOTBALL AT ITS PUREST FORM' AMID NIL ERA, SPONSOR'S CEO SAYS

President-elect Trump took in the game from a luxury suite, marking his first appearance at the contest since 2020. He was at the game five straight years, beginning in 2016, roughly a month after winning that year’s election. Trump was joined by a star-studded cast that included JD Vance, Elon Musk, Daniel Penny, Mike Johnson, Tulsi Gabbard and Pete Hegseth.

Army had won six of the previous eight meetings. The Midshipmen are 9-3 on the season, while Army fell to 11-2. 

Both teams now focus on their respective bowl games. Navy will face Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl, and Army awaits its Independence Bowl opponent after Marshall dropped out due to nearly 30 players entering the transfer portal.

It was a rare offensive showing on the field, at least for one side, as the under had hit in 18 of the previous 19 seasons. The total, though, was hovering around the 39.5 mark, so over bettors are celebrating.

Horvath finished with 204 yards on 25 carries, two of them resulting in scores, while throwing another pair of touchdowns despite just nine passing attempts.

Next year's edition, the 126th, will be played in Baltimore before heading to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 2026.

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